Onyeka rues Super Eagles’ World Cup miss, shifts focus to AFCON

Super Eagles and Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka has finally broken his silence following Nigeria’s painful exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, after a dramatic penalty shoot-out loss dashed the nation’s hopes.

In an emotional reflection, Onyeka acknowledged the frustration and disappointment felt across the country, stressing that the players are just as devastated.

“We, the players, are hurting just as much as Nigerians are hurting. Nigerians have every right to be very upset with us.

“It’s extremely tough missing out on the next FIFA World Cup. Some of us may not even be here in five years, in 2030 — that’s the part that hurts even more.

“But we have an AFCON to play in 34 days, and we must turn our pain into motivation.

“We have to prepare well and deliver a better performance than we did last time,” he stated.